Proud of its 112 current members, Le Lavoir, located in the suburbs of Béthune and Wazennes, first offered its services to the users of the social centre and the Restos du Coeur “because they are our primary target”, says D. Farahy, in charge of the structure.
Today, with its 9 washing machines and 10 dryers, Le Lavoir is the place to go for young students, isolated mothers, modest income families… Groups that can neither afford the needed laundry equipment nor do they have the space to install them in their tiny living quarters.

IT IS THE PLACE TO GO FOR YOUNG STUDENTS, ISOLATED MOTHERS, MODEST INCOME FAMILIES

This one of a kind project was carried out by the neighbourhood’s social centre, the Eaux du Nord firm, the city of Lille and the Conseil Général, in collaboration with the Foundation Abbé Pierre.

Like the washhouses of old, Le Lavoir is a place of exchange and interaction. The structure also offers social and professional accompaniment to those who wish to benefit from this kind of follow-up (writing CVs, cover letters, CMU papers, over-indebtedness prevention, housing information…).

Le Lavoir allowed the creation of 7 jobs, mainly in the form of integration contracts. Next step: opening dry cleaning services and creating a true integration company.